Frederick’s annual Oktoberfest festival takes over the Frederick Fairgrounds with pours of Spaten Oktoberfest, German wines, and local beers from Brewer’s Alley and Smoketown, joined by brats, strudel, pretzels, and schnitzel. The two-day event to benefit local nonprofits runs Friday, September 29 (6 p.m. to 10 p.m.) and Saturday, September 30 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets are $6 to $12 to enter.

From Wednesday, September 20 to Sunday, September 24, Hofbräu München takes over the Comus Inn for five scenic days of Oktoberfest fun at the foot of Sugarloaf Mountain. Look for German food; a Hofbräu bar pouring plenty of its Oktoberfestbier, Märzen, Hefe Weizen lines; and a fully decorated Hofbräu Biergarten hosting German folk ensembles on the stage, along with awards for the best-dressed lederhosen and drindl, stein hoisting, keg races, and hot dog eating contests, with a weekend bounce house for kids. Attendees can take home an authentic Oktoberfest stein from Hofbräu, which sends hundreds of the glasses to the five-acre Montgomery County venue every year. Admission is free on Wednesday and Thursday and $10 Friday to Sunday (or $5 for kids).

Maryland’s Guinness Open Gate Brewery celebrates Oktoberfest over three back-to-back weekends starting Saturday, September 23. Look for five limited-time Oktoberfest beers, live music under a Munich beer tent, stein-holding contests, German food specials, VIP tasting experiences, and limited-edition merch. Pro tip: Leave the car at home and consider taking the Marc train from Union Station to its Baltimore County stop in Halethorpe.

Located on the grounds of the historic Mrs. K’s Tollhouse, Silver Spring’s Zinnia celebrates its 2nd annual Oktoberfest on Saturday, September 23, with free-flowing beers, German fare for purchase, lawn games, a take-home stein, and more. Choose from two sessions — noon to 2 p.m. or 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. — for $45 (or $50 at the door).

Oktoberfest takes over the Virginia town of Middleburg for its third year on Saturday, September 16. The first keg — delivered via a wagon pulled by Belgian horses from Whitestone Farm — will be tapped by Middleburg Mayor Bridge Littleton and Old Ox Brewery president Chris Burns. The streets will also come to life with two biergartens, local bands, singers, a stein-holding contest, art fair, moon bounce, car show, musical chairs, and other Oktoberfest games. Traditional Oktoberfest food from King Street Oyster Bar, Market Salamander, and Little Austria joins beer from Old Ox Brewery and Lost Barrel Brewing, wine from Greenhill Vineyards, Cana Vineyards, 50 West Vineyards, and Boxwood Winery, and cider from Mt. Defiance. Oktoberfest (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.) is free to attend, with food and drink available for purchase.

Tysons Corner’s boxy biergarten offers two days of Oktoberfest fun, starting with the “tapping of the keg” flown in from Germany on Saturday, September 16. Sample 50 beers from Germany, Belgium, Austria, and the U.S., with a family-friendly day tagged for Sunday, September 17 complete with Frozen and Spiderman showings.

Dacha’s Oktoberfest celebration this year doubles as its 10-year anniversary festival, kicking off with a ceremonial keg tapping at noon. Dacha debuted in Shaw in September 2013 and has poured more than 3 million pints of beer since. Over at Dacha’s Navy Yard sibling, the party starts with a keg tapping at 2 p.m., followed by pretzel-eating and boot-holding contests and appearances from baseball’s beloved Racing Presidents, Dacha’s polka band A Jury of Your Beers, and German dance performances by Potomactaler. Along with live entertainment every weekend, Navy Yard hosts Nationals catcher Riley Adams on September 24 and Dogtoberfest on September 30.

The annual Oktoberfest takeover at NoMa’s resident biergarten calls for German food, live bands, Bavarian games, DJs, themed parties, stein-holding contests, and prizes like $100 drink tabs and free cabana rentals. Look for Märzen-style beers from legendary Bavarian breweries Spaten Franziskaner and Weihenstephan. Sport your best lederhosen and dirndl for the chance to win on-the-spot prizes. Best-dressed pooches also win prizes during its Sunday “yappy hour” (noon to 3 p.m.). Month-long Oktoberfest festivities kick off with a tapping of the keg ceremony on Friday, September 15 and run through Sunday, October 15.

For its 39th annual Oktoberfest on Capitol Hill, the German stalwart hosts a pig roast on Saturday, September 23 and Saturday, October 7 (noon to 3 p.m.). For $83.45, customers get a portion of spanferkel (suckling pig) with sides, apfelstrudel, and a liter of beer. Cafe Berlin also offers a Sunday Bavarian brunch (September 17, October 1 and 15) with German folk music, German drafts, and beer cocktails. Reserve a table here. 

The cheesy chain brings back its three-course “Oktober FondueFest” menu (September 25 to October 26) featuring Bavarian beer cheese fondue and dippers, a salad, and chocolate fondue. Add Sam Adams Octoberfest, themed cocktails, or a glass of German wine.

Don you dirndl or lederhosen starting Friday, September 15, and head to the Southwest Waterfront all weekend for German fare, stein-hoisting contests, and Sam Adams Octoberfest pours at participating bars at the Wharf (Boardwalk Bar & Arcade, Brighton SW1, Canopy Central, Cantina Bambina, Easy Company, H-Bar at Hyatt House, Kaliwa, Kirwans On The Wharf, Lucky Buns, Whiskey Charlie and Rappahannock Oyster Bar). The 11th annual Wiener 500 Dachshund Dash is set for Saturday, September 16. View the full Oktoberfest lineup here.

The Alexandria brewery commemorates Oktoberfest on Saturday, September 23 (noon to 6 p.m.) with a large outdoor celebration filled with German-style beers, live music, German food, and games. And it’s all about Fido on Saturday, October 7 for Dogtoberfest, a free festival starting at noon to honor furry friends with pet portraits, nail trimming, and pet-related vendors and organizations.